OLDS – Holiday mail for residents in and around Olds is being safely delivered following a determined effort by RCMP to catch the “Grinch” who stole a mail truck outside a local Canada Post office.
“Alberta RCMP are proud of the Olds and Didsbury detachments for ensuring a Grinch didn’t ruin their families Christmas,” said RCMP Cpl. Gina Slaney.
At about 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 20 Olds RCMP were dispatched to a mail truck complaint from the Canada Post office in Olds, said Slaney in a media release.
She said the driver got out of the vehicle to unlock a door when a female jumped in the mail truck and drove away.
Slaney said within a short period of time, the stolen mail truck was spotted leaving Olds and was travelling southbound on Highway 2A.
She said RCMP followed the truck and called for back-up.
Didsbury RCMP officers attended and successfully deployed a tire deflation device on Highway 2A which disabled the stolen truck, said Slaney.
“However, the driver continued eastbound on Township Road 320 for several kilometres, running on rims until the truck came to a complete stop,” said Slaney.
She added as RCMP closed in on the truck, the driver reversed the vehicle and backed into a RCMP cruiser, causing an estimated $7,000 in damage.
Slaney said the driver then “lurched forward” and drove into the south ditch and became “hopelessly stuck” in the snow.
“Despite this, the driver continued to rev the engine and spin the tires for quite some time,” said Slaney.
She said the female driver was subsequently arrested and taken into custody.
Slaney said the stolen truck was recovered and the mail returned to its rightful owners.
She said Jamie Kruse, 46, a resident of Olds, has been charged with:
• dangerous driving;
• possession of stolen property over $5,000;
• resisting arrest; and
• breach of probation.
Slaney said after a judicial interim release hearing Kruse was remanded to appear by CCTV in Alberta Court of Justice in Okotoks on Dec. 22.
